Swatantra Bhardwaj gets 3-week interim bail in Dalit activist's father assault case

A Delhi court has granted three weeks’ interim bail to Swatantra Bhardwaj, who was arrested over the alleged assault on the father of 14-year-old social media influencer Nishu Azad during a Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar.

The Patiala House Court granted Bhardwaj interim relief a day after hearing arguments on his bail application.

Bhardwaj was arrested on September 4 following outrage over an interview in which he allegedly claimed that he had “cracked the skull” of the girl’s father during the June 23 protest and avoided arrest because of his political connections.

During the bail hearing, the court asked Delhi Police whether Bhardwaj had used a casteist slur during the incident.

Police told the court that the initial complaint did not mention any casteist remark. The allegation was added when the complainant’s statement was recorded again, following which provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were invoked.

Bhardwaj’s lawyer said the first FIR against him was registered on June 23. Police issued him a notice on June 27 directing him to join the investigation. He appeared for questioning on June 29 and was subsequently allowed to leave.

The lawyer claimed that Bhardwaj was arrested on September 4 following subsequent “political developments” and that another FIR was registered after his arrest.

The defence also alleged that Bhardwaj was himself attacked by the complainant during the protest. His lawyer said a video circulating on social media showed Bhardwaj falling to the ground before being rescued by police.

The court played and watched the video during the hearing.

Opposing the bail plea, the complainant’s lawyer said Bhardwaj had not been arrested illegally and that four FIRs had been registered in connection with the case, including those invoking provisions of the SC/ST Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

The complainant’s counsel argued that the investigation was still at a preliminary stage. The lawyer also referred to a video in which Bhardwaj had allegedly admitted to assaulting the complainant.

The interim bail order came days after the Supreme Court sought a report on allegations that Nishu Azad was being harassed following the alleged assault on her father.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said allegations involving the harassment of a minor could not be ignored. It stressed that a child and her family must not be pressured for pursuing criminal proceedings.

The bench asked authorities in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to provide details of the FIRs, the security arrangements for the girl and her family, and the action taken against those accused of assault and intimidation.

The Chief Justice also asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to ensure that appropriate action was taken on the girl’s complaint.

During the hearing, the girl’s lawyer alleged that no action had been taken against those who accompanied Bhardwaj during the June 23 incident. The lawyer claimed that videos showed four police personnel accompanying the alleged attackers and that stones had also been thrown at the girl’s home.

“If that child faces some mischief, we will not be able to reverse those things,” the lawyer told the court, according to Live Law.

The Chief Justice said the allegations required immediate attention if those accused of violence were still at large and attempting to intimidate the girl.

“If there are anti-social elements who indulge in violence against children, and they are roaming free, and are trying to browbeat the child, that may be a serious thing,” the Chief Justice said.

Justice Bagchi directed the authorities to take immediate steps on the FIR and provide police protection to the girl and her family.

The girl had alleged that she received rape threats and verbal abuse and that morphed images of her were circulated after she spoke about the alleged assault and approached the police.- EndsPublished By: Sonali VermaPublished On: Sep 15, 2026 15:48 IST